Nail extractor for mechanical hammers



y 1952- c. J. NISSLEY 2,597,594

NAIL EXTRACTOR FOR MECHANICAL HAMMERS Filed July 5; 1949 2 SHEETS-SHEET l INVENTOR. "$121169 :7: M'ssle y 1952 c. J. NISSLEY 2,597,594

NAIL EXTRACTOR FOR MECHANICAL HAMMERS Filed July 5, 1949 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 11 1 figfl INVENTOR. filaude 32 1 233121 Patented May 20, 1952 NAIL EXTRACTOR F HAMIM OR MECHANICAL ERS Claude J. Nissley, Telford, Pa.

Application July 5, 1949, Serial No. 103,073

Claims. (01. 254-19) My invention relates to a new and useful nail extractor for mechanica1 hammers, such as pneumatic, hydraulic and electric or other types of portable hand-controlled hammers having reciprocating plungers for striking blows on implements mounted in the hammer barrels.

An object of the invention is to provide means as a part of a mechanical hammer for use in extracting nails from woodwork which will speed up operations and at the same time reduce the labor necessary for such operations and thereby lighten the work for the operator.

Another object of this invention is to provide an exceedingl simple and effective device of the character mentioned in the form of an attachment for a mechanical hammer, including a sleeve for detachable connection to the hammer barrel or cylinder, a shank slidably mounted in said sleeve to be actuated by a plunger or equivalent part of the hammer, and nail engaging claws carried by the outer end of said shank, one of said claws being pivoted and provided with a lever to act as a fulcrum during the actual nail extracting operations.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a simple means for assembling the parts and limiting reciprocating movements of the shank and means to prevent rotation of said shank.

With the above and other objects in view this invention consists of the details of construction and combination of elements hereinafter set forth and then designated by the claims. n

In order that those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains may understand how to make and use the same I will describe its construction in detail, referring, by numerals to the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side view of a mechanical hammer, of the conventional pneumatic type, with the nail extractor attached thereto and portions broken away to depict details of construction and also illustrating in dotted lines a position which can be assumed during an extracting operation.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the extractor and a sectional elevation of work pieces to illustrate the manner of gripping a nail.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged side view of the attachment.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view thereof with the shank element in elevation and the pivoted claw detached.

In carrying out my invention as herein embodied 5 represents a portable mechanical hammer of the pneumatic, explosive, electric or other well known type. For purposes'of illustration only, a conventional pneumatic hammer is shown and includes a barrel or casing 6 having a feed line I connected thereto and housing a reciprocating plunger 8 or other equivalent blow imparting element.

The nail extracting attachment 9 comprises a tubular sleeve [0 including a slim body portion l l and an enlarged head portion l2. At the upper end of the sleeve is formed an external flange l3 and the lower end is externally threaded, as at M. The bore [5 of the tubular sleeve has, in particular, a long lower portion [6 ofv small diameter and a short upper portion 1 l of larger diameter providing a shoulder l8 between them. The upper end of the sleeve [0, in the region of the bore portion ll of larger diameter, is internally threaded at [9 for engagement with the externally threaded outer end of the hammer casing or barrel,'as shown in Fig. l.

A shank or piston 20 is slidably fitted in the bore portion of smaller diameter with a reduced neck 2| projecting into the bore portion of larger diameter and so as to extend into the lower end of hammer casing to be engaged by the plunger 8 when the sleeve is assembled on the hammer until the lower edge of the latter contacts the shoulder IS. The sliding or longitudinal movements of the shank or piston are limited by the coaction of a collar 22, formed on said shank or piston, with the end of the sleeve and the inturned flange 23 of the retaining ring 24 screwed onto the threads M. The retaining ring with its flange also temporarily holds said shank or piston 20 in place.

The shank or piston is held against rotation by a stop 25, such as an Allen screw threaded through the sleeve and projecting into a longitudinal slot 26 in said shank or piston. The retaining ring 24 may be further secured by a fastening device 27, such as an Allen screw, threaded through the side thereof and impinging the threads M.

The nail extractor or attachment as a whole, may be additionally secured to the hammer by a fastening device 28 threaded through a wall of the upper end of the sleeve to impinge the threads on the outside of the hammer casing or barrel.

On the lower end of the shank or piston 20, below the collar 22, is formed an integral claw 29 which is relatively thin and fiat to provide a recess 30 on two opposite sides of the shank and the terminal is notched, as at 3|. A movable claw 32, preferably having an aperture 33 to receive the stationary claw, is pivoted to said stationary claw by the removable pivot 34. This movable claw 32 has a lever 35 projecting therefrom to function as a fulcrum for the complete appliance, to first close the claws and then impart a lifting action as the appliance is tilted towards said lever.

With the movable claw detached, the shank or piston may be slipped into the sleeve, the retaining ring passed over the stationary claw and screwed onto the sleeve, and then said movable claw connected by means of the pivot for assembling the parts.

In practice, assuming a nail 36 is to be extracted from a workpiece 31, Fig. 2, such as parts of a box or crate, or two connected boards, the a pliance, assembled as shown in Fig. 1, is-held in a substantially upright position with the claws on opposite sides of and'out of contact withthe head of the nail. The hammer is now operated which will drive the claws into the workpiece material to a position below orbeyond the head of ithe 'nail. Then "by tilting the appliance slightly, with the hammer still'in operation, --the clawswill be forced towards a closed position beneath the nail head. As soon as the nail -is firmly gripped, the appliance is tilted suificiently to .raisethe hammer and connected parts on the terminal end of the lever 35 which, under ordinary circumstances will extract the nail. Where the nail is very difiicult to removeor initially start the withdrawing operations, the hammer may jbefurther operated to impart a jarring action'tothe nail which'will assist in the extraction.

,Of course I do not wish-to be limited to the exact details of construction herein shown and described as these may be varied within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having described my invention what -I=claim as new and useful is:

"1. A-nailextractor for use with a mechanical hammer, comprisinga tubular sleeve having its upper end internally threaded for connection'to external threadsonthe lower end of the hammer, a piston having a limited'longitudinal movement inisaid sleeve, the upper end of said piston being positioned :to be acted upon-by -a blow imparting element of 'the'hammer-and the lowerend of saldpiston projecting'from saidsleeve and 'hav- -to hold the latter against rotation.

3.In combination, a mechanical hammer, a tubular sleeve, said hammer and sleeve-having coacting means for detachably connecting them together, a piston having a reduced neck for projection into the hammer to be acted upon by the blow imparting element of the hammer, said piston having a longitudinal slot, means projecting through the sleeve and extending into the slot to hold the piston against rotation, a stationary ,claw on the lower end of said piston, ,a movable claw assembledon the stationary claw and provided with a tail lever projecting therefrom to .the rear of the stationary jaw, the terminal portions of said claws facing each other, removable means-for pivoting the movable claw on the stationary claw, and means for limiting the sliding movements of the piston and preventing its accidental displacement.

4. :The structure according to claim 3 wherein the ,means for limiting the piston movements andpreventing its displacement includes a collar on the piston above the stationary claw, and a retaining ring detachably mounted on the sleeve and having an inturned flange :spaced from :the end of the sleeve, said collar being located between said inturned flange and the lower en'd of the sleeve.

5. A unitarywnall extractor :for connection and use with a mechanical hammer comprising a tubular sleeve for detachable connection to 3th: outer end of a mechanical hammer casingc-a piston within said sleeve, the .outenend .of .said iston projecting beyond the contiguous outer end of said sleeve, astationary claw onvthesend of the piston projecting beyond the 'outer'end of said sleeve, a collar on said piston beyond the outer :endof said sleeve and'coactingwith the latter, a retaining ring detachably mounted/on said outer end of the sleeve and having an inturned flange coacting with the collar whereby the reciprocations of the piston are limited iby the sleeve :end .and theretaining ring flangeya movable 'claw pivoted to the stationaryclawand coacting-with the retaining ring flange to hold said i retaining ring against removal :from :the

piston, the terminal portions-of said clawsfacln each 'other,; a lever projecting from said movable .claw and extending to the :rear of'the stationary claw, and means to 'hold the piston against rotation.

CLAUDE J. NISSLIE'Y.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record ,in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES .-PATENTS Number Name Date 154,101 'Taft Aug. 11,1874 444,948 Capewell Jan/2051891 505,815 Capewell Oct. 3,1893

1,080,210 Giles Dec, 2, 1913 -1,201',010 woods Oct. 10, 19-16 1',27.1,832 Bartels July 9,1191% 2,472353 'Van-Sittar-t et a1 ..'Iune"7,11-949 

